Latest news with #KPMGWomen'sPGA
USA Today
22-05-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Here are 5 things to know about new LPGA commissioner Craig Kessler
Here are 5 things to know about new LPGA commissioner Craig Kessler Craig Kessler was named the LPGA's 10th commissioner on Thursday. As the tour celebrates 75 years, Kessler comes in at a pivotal time. LPGA players and casual golf fans and will be getting to know Kessler in the coming days, but many industry insiders are already familiar with the Dallas-based PGA of America executive. Here are five things to know about the LPGA's newest chief: The right personality Currently the PGA of America's Chief Operating Officer, 39-year-old Kessler was a candidate for the CEO position last year, but the association ultimately made being a PGA member a priority in the search. Kessler's previous work in golf includes a stint at Topgolf, where he was COO and Head of Emerging Concepts from 2016-21. Described as a high-energy, disciplined and dynamic leader, Kessler earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and an undergraduate degree from Georgetown University. "I think with this job, personality is really important," said Stacy Lewis, who served on the eight-person search committee. "The ability to relate to different people, different genders, different ages." Golf part of the family's DNA Kessler grew up playing the game in Southern California and currently carries a handicap of 5.5. Because dad worked at Topgolf, playing on the weekends comes naturally to his three boys, who are now 5, 7 and 9. Golf, he said, is part of the family's DNA. His nine-year-old son already has the Lego set picked out that he wants to give top-ranked Nelly Korda at the KPMG Women's PGA in Frisco next month. Korda picked up the hobby to pass the time and relax while on the road. "I learned how to play golf at Rancho Carlsbad, which we called the Cow Pasture," said Kessler. "It didn't have a blade of grass on it, but I've been playing since I was a young kid. In the summers, my buddies and I, our moms would drop us off at the Lakes San Marcos executive golf course and for $9. We played unlimited golf until the sun went down, and in many respects, golf was our summertime babysitter." CEO experience at Topgolf, more In between Topgolf and the PGA, Kessler served as Chief Executive Officer of the Dallas-based Buff City Soap, which more than doubled in the number of store locations from 100 to 260 nationwide while Kessler was at the helm. "The primary lesson that I learned at Buff City, is how to navigate really complex stakeholder environments," said Kessler. "Anytime somebody leads an organization made up of franchisees who have put their time, their sweat, their blood, their financial resources into something. That's a high-stakes environment. At Buff City, one of my jobs was to navigate the complexities of a franchise environment. And I think learning from that how to listen, how to ask questions, how to be deeply empathetic, all of those lessons will translate to my job at the LPGA." Leadership style Kessler describes his leadership style as highly collaborative, energetic and built around positivity. At the same time, he believes in a culture of constant feedback, noting that organizations that are too nice to one another never realize their full potential. "Organizations that recognize feedback is a gift, is critical," he said. When it comes to the players, Kessler said he hopes they all come to view him as "unbelievably accessible." Kessler's vision The goal, Kessler said, is to create an organization where existing and prospective stakeholders look at what's happening at the LPGA and say, "Oh, my goodness, something magical is happening there, and I have to be a part of it." To get there, he's focusing on four major pillars: Building trust, building visibility, building fans and building a stronger financial foundation. "I will tell you, trust underpins everything," he said.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lydia Ko caddies for Danielle Kang at U.S. Women's Open qualifying in San Francisco
Lydia Ko traveled straight from the year's first major in Texas to U.S. Women's Open qualifying in San Francisco to help out a friend. The world No. 3 caddied at The Olympic Club on Monday for fellow major champion Danielle Kang on the Lake Course, using her push cart for the 36-hole gig. Kang and Ko have teamed up several times to compete in the LPGA's Dow Championship. Kang, 32, has struggled on tour of late, dropping to 389th in the world. Rounds of 74-73 weren't enough to earn her a spot in this year's championship, held May 28-June 1 at Wisconsin's Erin Hills Golf Course. This will be the first U.S. Women's Open Kang has missed since 2009. Her lone top-10 finish in the event came in 2018 when she finished fourth. As for Ko, a winner of three different major championship titles, she needs a victory at the U.S. Women's Open or KPMG Women's PGA to complete the career grand slam. While major champions Ko and Kang were the stars of the field, amateurs dominated the leaderboard at the historic club, where three players advanced to Erin Hills. Junior Sarah Lim of Saratoga, California, shared medalist honors with Emily Oden, a junior at SMU who hails from Barbados, at 3-under 139. Oden will be the first player from Barbados to compete in the championship. Lim carded a 67 in Round 2 to clinch her spot. Meanwhile Stanford players Paula Martin Sampedro and Andrea Revuelta, both of Spain, battled it out for the last automatic spot. Martin Sampedro shot 3-under 68 in the second round to edge her teammate by one stroke. Revuelta will be the site's first alternate. This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Lydia Ko caddies for Danielle Kang at U.S. Women's Open qualifying
USA Today
29-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Lydia Ko caddies for Danielle Kang at U.S. Women's Open qualifying in San Francisco
Lydia Ko caddies for Danielle Kang at U.S. Women's Open qualifying in San Francisco Lydia Ko traveled straight from the year's first major in Texas to U.S. Women's Open qualifying in San Francisco to help out a friend. The world No. 3 caddied at The Olympic Club on Monday for fellow major champion Danielle Kang on the Lake Course, using her push cart for the 36-hole gig. Kang and Ko have teamed up several times to compete in the LPGA's Dow Championship. Kang, 32, has struggled on tour of late, dropping to 389th in the world. Rounds of 74-73 weren't enough to earn her a spot in this year's championship, held May 28-June 1 at Wisconsin's Erin Hills Golf Course. This will be the first U.S. Women's Open Kang has missed since 2009. Her lone top-10 finish in the event came in 2018 when she finished fourth. As for Ko, a winner of three different major championship titles, she needs a victory at the U.S. Women's Open or KPMG Women's PGA to complete the career grand slam. While major champions Ko and Kang were the stars of the field, amateurs dominated the leaderboard at the historic club, where three players advanced to Erin Hills. Junior Sarah Lim of Saratoga, California, shared medalist honors with Emily Oden, a junior at SMU who hails from Barbados, at 3-under 139. Oden will be the first player from Barbados to compete in the championship. Lim carded a 67 in Round 2 to clinch her spot. Meanwhile Stanford players Paula Martin Sampedro and Andrea Revuelta, both of Spain, battled it out for the last automatic spot. Martin Sampedro shot 3-under 68 in the second round to edge her teammate by one stroke. Revuelta will be the site's first alternate.
USA Today
25-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Part-time player Lexi Thompson contends heading into weekend at Chevron Championship
Part-time player Lexi Thompson contends heading into weekend at Chevron Championship THE WOODLANDS, Texas – A semi-retired Lexi Thompson sits within striking distance at the 2025 Chevron Championship after a second-round 67 at The Club at Carlton Woods vaulted her into the top 10. Does a day like today make her want to play more tournament golf? The 30-year-old didn't have to think. "No," she said smiling. The Chevron marks Thompson's fourth start to the year, which puts her on par with many in the field. She'll likely play around 10 events in 2025, including the next two majors – U.S. Women's Open and KPMG Women's PGA. She tied for 13th in her first start, the Founders Cup, and took a share of 38th at the Ford Championship near Phoenix. "Coming into the week, if I'm being honest, I wasn't hitting it great coming off last week, didn't really know what to expect," said Thompson, who missed the cut last week at the JM Eagle LA Championship. "But Monday through Wednesday I don't think I've ever practiced that hard and like worked with my brother Curtis on the bag and my dad (Scott), just going back and forth with things that could possibly work. "Sometimes you just got to go out there and focus in on one thing and let it go. So I'm very proud of myself, and been having fun the last two days." The biggest difference between full-time Thompson and semi-retired Thompson? More vacations. "And not feeling bad about them," she added. Thompson's brother Curtis reports that she's not loving the driver right now, so when she's uncomfortable she mashes 3-wood off the tee, which carries around 235 yards. There's a 2-iron in her bag but she hasn't used it. She took her 50-degree wedge out of the bag because the soggy Nicklaus Course is playing so long that she doesn't need it. Curtis watches his sister's ball-flight more than her swing, noting that if she can stay in her posture and keep her weight moving into her front foot, she'll be in good shape. "I think she's working just as hard," said Curtis of this new chapter. "We're going through it a little bit with the mechanics of the swing, but I think the effort is still here, for sure. Mindset gets in a better spot sometimes when things start to go the wrong way." Thompson, who got engaged on New Year's Day, believes she should probably pick up more hobbies to keep herself from getting bored, but so far, she's enjoying doing absolutely nothing some days. After 15 years of traveling the world, it's nice to just sit around. "I mean, I'll work out an hour or two a day and still practice here and there," she said. "You know, it's nice to just, I don't know, I'm just going to binge watch a show, just sit on my couch." She's currently watching "Pulse," a medical drama on Netflix and is thinking about volunteering at an animal shelter. "This is something I've wanted to do my whole life," said Thompson of playing the tour, "but there is a lot more to life as well."
USA Today
24-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Nelly Korda stumbles early at Chevron Championship with opening 77
Nelly Korda stumbles early at Chevron Championship with opening 77 THE WOODLANDS, Texas – Nelly Korda struggled mightily in the opening round of Chevron Championship. The World No. 1 recorded only one birdie in a 7-over 77 that included four consecutive bogeys from Nos. 3-6. Korda, who won her fifth of six consecutive starts last year at the Club at Carlton Woods, was obviously frustrated and on the verge of tears when she stopped to talk to a trio of reporters after the round. 'I just have to go work,' said Korda. 'I'm not hitting it well, so that's about it.' When asked about the biggest challenge of the day, Korda gave a one-word reply that's relatable to anyone who's ever played the game: 'Golf.' Winless so far in 2025, Korda changed putters at last week's JM Eagle LA Championship and said earlier this week at the Chevron that the main difference between last year and this year is that not as many putts are falling. Korda hit 11 greens and eight fairways in her opening round on the Nicklaus Course and took 33 putts. 'I'm going to go and practice and see where it takes me,' she said, before heading over to sign autographs. Korda's instructor, Jamie Mulligan, is onsite this week and followed her throughout the round. The 15-time winner has had several high rounds of late at the majors. She shot 80 in the opening round of the 2024 U.S. Women's Open at Lancaster Country Club after making a 10 on her third hole of the day. At the KPMG Women's PGA last year, she carded a second-round 81, tying her highest score on the LPGA, at Sahalee Country Club, to miss a second straight cut in the majors.
